Victimization in America

When the phrase “Me Too” was first used as a way to help survivors of assault or victimization feel connected to one another, it’s possible the originators had no idea just how powerful those words would become. While it may have originally been used as a tool to raise awareness around the prevalence of sexual violence in 2006, Me Too have become the defining words of a movement few can avoid.

Now, 14 years later, states have changed their sexual harassment laws as a result of the Me Too movement; survivors across the country are getting financial restitution for the crimes committed against them; and people everywhere have changed the way they think about sexual assault.

But how has the violence of assault changed in the last two decades, and where are crimes of victimization – including rape, sexual assault, robbery, and simple assault – still most likely to occur? To find out, Security.org analyzed over 20 years of data from the National Victimization Analysis Tool and summarized the findings in their Reports of Violence.

Decreases in Violent Victimization

Since 1993, reports of violent victimization – in all its forms – have decreased dramatically.

In 1993, there were more than 16 million reports of assault in America, including more than 10 million cases of simple assault and over 1 million cases of rape or sexual assault. By 2018, the total number of violent victimization reports had decreased to less than 8 million, including fewer than 6 million cases of simple assault.

Still, while reports of simple assault, aggravated assault, and robbery have decreased substantially among both men and women, the rate of rape and sexual assault has spiked in the last three years, particularly against women. In 2018, the number of cases of rape or sexual assault against women had risen to 4.6 cases among every 1,000 people, the highest rate in nearly 20 years.

And while cases of aggravated assault and robbery have been more common among men than women, in 2018, men and women were equally likely to experience simple assault, with the rate rising to 14.6 cases for every 1,000 people.

Where Violence Happens

Specifically, in cases of rape or sexual assault, the most common location for victimization to occur is at or around the home. Nearly 47% of cases involving rape and sexual assault between 1993 and 2018 occurred at or near the home, and 22% occurred in commercial or public spaces.

Another 32% of aggravated assault cases, 36% of robberies, and 30% of simple assault cases also occurred at or around the home. Public cases of assault, including robberies, were more likely to happen in public spaces for men, while women more often experienced these acts of violence much closer to home. Including 48% of all sexual assault or rape cases between 1993 and 2018, 51% of robberies against women, 47% of aggravated assault, and 42% of simple assault cases occurred at or near home among female victims. Combined, more than 2 in 5 violent cases against women (of any kind) happened in or around their home.

While reports of victimization have decreased all across America since 1993, some areas have seen slower reductions than others. Compared to the South, where violent victimizations decreased by 83%, cases in the West decreased by 70%, and cases in the Midwest decreased by 64%.

Cases of rape or sexual assault have decreased by 42% in the Midwest, while cases of aggravated (63%) and simple assault (64%) have been slowest to decline in the West.

The State of Violence in America

While the rate of violent crimes in America, including rape, assault, and robberies, may be decreasing overall, it’s important not to lose sight of your own personal safety.

Particularly in cases against women, the last three years have seen a major spike in the number of rape or sexual assault cases, crimes often occurring at or near the places women live.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes